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Commerce, Science and Technology Minister, Phillip Paulwell, is again urging Jamaicans to conserve energy, noting that preliminary estimates indicate that it would take some six months for normalcy to return to the energy sector following an explosion and fire damage at the state-owned Petrojam Refinery late last month. Making a statement to Parliament on the situation yesterday (Nov. 2), Mr....

The House of Representatives yesterday (Nov. 2) passed the Tourism Enhancement Fee Bill to provide for a tourism enhancement fee to be paid by incoming airline and cruise ship passengers. The Bill will be debated in Jamaica's Upper House, the Senate, later this month. Industry and Tourism Minister, Aloun Ndombet-Assamba, noted that the Bill would provide the legal basis for...

The House of Representatives yesterday (Nov. 2) began debate on amendments to the Nurses and Midwives Act, which makes provision for registered nurses, midwives and assistant nurses to be licensed as a prerequisite to the continuous practice of their profession. Piloting the Bill, Minister of Health John Junor, explained that the validity of each licence issued would be for a...

In the effort to curb the rise of drug use among the youth population, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture has developed a policy document for the management of substance abuse, and is preparing the document for implementation throughout the education system. Information Minister, Burchell Whiteman made this disclosure at the post Cabinet press briefing held at Jamaica House...

The National Land Agency (NLA) has improved its operations with a view to assisting the public to more easily access information on land titles, land valuation and government-owned land, Garfield Knight, Director of Business Development and Technology at the NLA has said. Mr. Knight is of the view that the continued use of outdated practices and the unavailability of easy-to-use...

Co-ordinator at the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Association (CDERA), Jeremy Collymore, has said that the 2004 hurricane season presented a real opportunity to harness fear, address policy gaps and enforce regulations. Addressing the opening ceremony of a three-day Caribbean 2004 Regional Disaster Conference yesterday (November 1), at the Wyndham Rosehall Resort and Spa in Montage Bay, he emphasized that to...

Some $1.8 million in relief supplies has been donated by the Red Cross of Jamaica in Clarendon, working closely with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and other agencies in the parish, in response to the needs of persons affected by Hurricane Ivan, which lashed the island on September 10. Veronica Watson, Branch Director of the Red Cross in...

Arts and Culture Jamaica Inc., a Canadian organization dedicated to promoting the "unique arts and culture of Jamaica", has announced the recipients of its 2004 scholarship awards, ranging from CDN$500 to $1000. The recipients are all of Jamaican heritage attending tertiary institutions in Toronto, Canada, and have satisfied the criteria of demonstrating artistic abilities and pursuing full-time study in the...

The Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture has set a November 8 deadline for fifth form students of secondary schools to submit their applications for assistance in the payment of fees for CSEC (Caribbean School Examination Certificate) subjects in the 2005 examinations. Under the Secondary School Fee Assistance programme, the Ministry is funding four CSEC subjects, including English Language, Mathematics,...

The Management Institute for National Development (MIND) yesterday (November 1), commenced the 21st training course of its Tax Audit and Revenue Administration (TARA) Post Graduate Diploma Programme. Speaking at the opening of the course, at MIND on Old Hope Road, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Institute, Maria Jones highlighted the critical importance of the TARA programme in Jamaica's national...

Work is progressing satisfactorily on the construction of a new sewerage system to serve the police station and market in Morant Bay, St. Thomas. This is being done at a cost of $3.3 million. The project is being jointly funded by the Ministries of National Security; and Local Government, Community Development and Sport. Secretary/Manager at the St. Thomas Parish Council,...

Work is now underway to repair the arcade section of the Brown's Town market in St. Ann. Ian Boyd Brown, Commercial Services Manager at the St. Ann Parish Council, told a meeting of vendors at the Brown's Town Anglican Church Hall recently, that the areas to be dealt with were the roofing, lighting and drainage systems. He said the roof...